Timing device for internal-combustion engines



July 1, 1924. 1,499,737

0. E. KEY

TIMING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 17, 1922 Patented July 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES ORVILLE E. KEY, OF LITTLE YORK, ILLINOIS.

TIMING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed April 17, 1922.

' to provide a new and improved contact brush for timers and improved means for mounting and adjusting the same as will provide more efiicient and reliable contact, and add to the life of the device and indif= rectly increase the efliciency of the engine in connection with which it is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character that is simple in construction, strong and durable and which it is believed may be manufaclit tured at a reasonably low cost.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent during the continuance of the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in cross-section of a timer of conventional form showing my invention in its preferred embodiment used in connection therewith.

Figure 2 is a view in transverse crosssection taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa view in transverse crosssection taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation taken on line4=1 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view in cross-section taken on line 55 of Figure 3. 4

The timer proper shown for purposes of illustration consists generally of a casing having mounted therein contact plates 11 insulated with respect to each other as at 12 and con'tentional binding posts 13.- The operating shaft 14 extends into the interior of the casing and is of the usual and ordinary construction.

My invention consists. more generally in a casing like carrier 15 arranged over the end of the shaft 14 that projects within the interior of the casing 10, an opening 16 Serial No. 553,314..

being provided therein to permit the threaded end 17 of the shaft M to pass therethru. The usual securing members 18 are positioned on the threaded end 17 as clearly shown in Figure 4:. The carrying member is keyed to the shaft 1 1 through the medium of a tapered key 19 that is positioned in registering openings 20 and 21 of the shaft 14 and the carrying member 15 respectively, as shown in Figure 3 and is designed to prevent independent operation of the shaft and the carrying member. At one side the carrying member is provided with an offset 22 that is provided with a tapered tubular recess 23 arranged at a substantial rightangle with respect to the line of extent of the shaft 14. Upon reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the recess 23 is open at 7 one end to permit the insertion and removal of certain members while its other end is partly closed although the offset is provided at that point with a constricted opening 24 for the purpose that will presently appear.

The brush proper consists of a normally slightly curved metallic element 25 the curved part of which is adapted to lie in the plane of the contact plate 11 and en gage said contact plate when the shaft 14- and the carrying member 15 are turned. One end portion of the brush member is slightly constricted as at 26 and such constricted portion is adapted to lie within the tapered recess 23 of the offset 22 as clearly shown in Figure 3. A tapered locking member 27 is; also adapted to be partitioned in the recess 23 and has a threaded shank 28 which projects through the opening 24 of the offset 22. When the locking member 27 is positioned within the recess 23 a nut or other fastening member 29 may be screwed on the projecting end of the shank 28 so as to draw the member 27 inwardly and thereby securely bind the constricted portion 26 of the brush 25 against the wall of the recess. In this way the brush can be securely locked in place and it will be readily noted that the adjustment of the brush by first loosening the locking member 27 can be easily accomplished.

When in operation the parts are assembled substantially as shown in Figure 2 so that when the shaft 14: and the carrying mem ber 15 are rotated the brush 25 will be brought in contact with the plate 11 and make and break the electrical circuit in the usual and well known manner. The readjustment-of the 'lorush may be accom-- 'plished so as to compensate for'wear on the free end thereof and by reason of the curved construction of the outer end of the brush abetter contact with; the plate 11 is had so as to increase the efficiency of both the timer and the engine in connection with which it is used. The parts can be readily assembled or dissemb-led and it will also be noted thatthe improved carrying member 15 and the brush can be used in connec-' tion with the timers of the conventional Ford. 7 r r V F rom the foregoing it is believed: that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily understood and therefore further detailed deemed unnecessary. V V

'What-is claimed is: 7 I V w '1. The combination with a timer casing description is and a'shaft projecting into the same of a carrying member keyed to said shaft and adapted to operate with said time-r casing, an

offset on said carrying member provided with a tapering recess extending atrightangles to theextent of said shaft, a brush member having a. portion curved in substantially the arc of a circle, a reduced portion on said brush adapted to enter said recess, a tapering locking member in said recess, and

'means toadjust said locking member to secure said brush member in place substantially described. 5 g v 2. A device of the vcharacter described comprising in combination with a timer casing of conventional form having one end of a rotatable shaft projecting thereinto of a circle, a restricted portion ron said brush adapted to enter .said recess, a tapered locking member adapted to be inserted in i said recess, a shank .on said locking member adapted to project through said opening, a fastening member arranged von the 'projectingend of said shank whereby said locking member may be adjusted within said openlng to secure the constructed portion of said brush member'in a rigid position with respect to said oii'set substantially as described. f a

In testimony whereof I JalfiX my signature.

onvrt n E. KEY. 

